Son of longtime dry cleaners opening two stores of his own

Vince Griffin talks about his new Griffin’s Cleaners facility on Skyland Boulevard on Monday. Griffin said he hopes to have his business, including a second site on McFarland Boulevard in Northport Corners Shopping Center, open by December.

Staff photo | Michelle Lepianka Carter

By Patrick RupinskiBusiness Editor | The Tuscaloosa News

Published: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at 12:07 a.m.

Vince Griffin grew up in his parents’ dry cleaning business, working there while in high school and joining it full time after graduation.

But about six years ago, his parents, Jerry and Brenda Griffin, sold the business, Jerry’s Cleaners, which had grown into one of the larger dry cleaning operations in Tuscaloosa.

“We decided to get out of dry cleaning and get into other ventures,” Vince Griffin said. “I got into the asphalt business, but my heart just was not in it. I just loved dry cleaning.”

So he said he decided to do what he knows best. He is getting back into dry cleaning.

He plans to open Griffin’s Dry Cleaning & Laundry with two locations before the end of the year.

“My dad is a silent partner in the business, but he and my mom are retired,” the younger Griffin said.

Griffin’s Dry Cleaning will have a shop north of the river at McFarland Boulevard and Watermelon Road where customers will be able to drop off and pick up their dry cleaning. It also will have its dry cleaning plant at 2217 Skyland Blvd., next to the Seventh Day Adventist Church. The Skyland location also will a drop-off and pickup service for customers.

Vince Griffin, 44, said he has the dry cleaning equipment installed at the Skyland location, a building his family owns. His father will have an office there for his other business ventures but will not be working in dry cleaning.

“I have been in dry cleaning for 25 years,” Vince Griffin said. “I just like working with the people, your customers and your crew. They become like family.”

Over the years, there have been some changes in fabrics and fabric blends, he said, but the key to good dry cleaning is following the garment’s label instructions and knowing what caused the spots that need specific treating, he said.

Griffin said he plans to have about 20 to 25 employees between the two stores. Both locations will offer same-day service on weekdays for items dropped off before 10 a.m., he said.

Both locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. No dry cleaning will be done on Saturdays but customers will be able to drop off or pick up items that day.

<p>Vince Griffin grew up in his parents' dry cleaning business, working there while in high school and joining it full time after graduation.</p><p>But about six years ago, his parents, Jerry and Brenda Griffin, sold the business, Jerry's Cleaners, which had grown into one of the larger dry cleaning operations in Tuscaloosa.</p><p>“We decided to get out of dry cleaning and get into other ventures,” Vince Griffin said. “I got into the asphalt business, but my heart just was not in it. I just loved dry cleaning.”</p><p>So he said he decided to do what he knows best. He is getting back into dry cleaning.</p><p>He plans to open Griffin's Dry Cleaning & Laundry with two locations before the end of the year.</p><p>“My dad is a silent partner in the business, but he and my mom are retired,” the younger Griffin said.</p><p>Griffin's Dry Cleaning will have a shop north of the river at McFarland Boulevard and Watermelon Road where customers will be able to drop off and pick up their dry cleaning. It also will have its dry cleaning plant at 2217 Skyland Blvd., next to the Seventh Day Adventist Church. The Skyland location also will a drop-off and pickup service for customers.</p><p>Vince Griffin, 44, said he has the dry cleaning equipment installed at the Skyland location, a building his family owns. His father will have an office there for his other business ventures but will not be working in dry cleaning.</p><p>“I have been in dry cleaning for 25 years,” Vince Griffin said. “I just like working with the people, your customers and your crew. They become like family.”</p><p>Over the years, there have been some changes in fabrics and fabric blends, he said, but the key to good dry cleaning is following the garment's label instructions and knowing what caused the spots that need specific treating, he said.</p><p>Griffin said he plans to have about 20 to 25 employees between the two stores. Both locations will offer same-day service on weekdays for items dropped off before 10 a.m., he said.</p><p>Both locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. No dry cleaning will be done on Saturdays but customers will be able to drop off or pick up items that day.</p>